PLEA DEAL: Former Marine Admits To Killing His Wife

A former Camp Lejeune Marine admitted to killing his wife, avoiding a murder trial that was supposed to start Tuesday morning.

Juan Hernandez pleaded guilty to second degree murder, assault on a government official, and malicious conduct by a prisoner.

The man's wife, 20-year-old Kandace Hernandez, was found murdered at the couple's Wilson Avenue home in Richlands back in July of 2011.

Hernandez was sentenced to serve at least eight years in prison. Before the sentencing, he apologized to his wife's family and said he wanted to take responsibility for what happened.

The man was in the process of being discharged from the Marine Corps when the murder happened.

Deputies said an argument over rent money and marijuana in the house preceded the shooting.

The victim's parents told WITN they had spoken with their daughter on the telephone minutes before she was killed, encouraging her to get a bus ticket and come home to Ohio. Afterward, the victim's father told us that Juan Hernandez took everything from her.

"He'll be 30 years old when he gets out," said Corey Larew, Kandace's father. "He's only got five years, basically five more years, and he gets to run free while we still have to deal with the fact that we lost our daughter."

Hernandez has been behind bars since 2011, so that time served will be counted toward his sentence. Jury selection for Hernandez's trial was scheduled to begin Tuesday morning.

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Jury selection has been delayed until Tuesday for a man accused of killing his wife nearly three years ago.

Juan Hernandez is charged with murder in the death of his 20-year-old wife, Kandace, at their Wilson Avenue home in Richlands back in July of 2011.

At the time, Hernandez was in the Marine Corps.

Hernandez was indicted by a grand jury for that crime on February 19th of 2013.

Onslow County deputies said the shooting stemmed from an argument between the couple about rent money and marijuana. Deputies said they had been called to that house days before the shooting for a domestic disturbance.

The victim's parents told WITN they had spoken with their daughter via telephone minutes before she was killed, encouraging her to get a bus ticket and make her way home to Ohio.

District Attorney Ernie Lee explained that a civil matter, unrelated to the Hernandez case, caused the delay.

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A local Marine Corps deserter will answer the charges against him after being accused of killing his young wife.

District Attorney Ernie Lee said on February 19th, a grand jury indicted Juan Hernandez for killing his 20-year-old wife, Kandace, at their Wilson Avenue home in Richlands back in July of 2011.

Hernandez is scheduled to be in the Onslow County superior court for his arraignment on Tuesday afternoon.

On July 20th, of 2011, Sheriff Ed Brown told WITN that a woman had been shot at the Onslow County home in what appeared to be a domestic dispute. Deputies said they had been called to that house days before the shooting for a domestic disturbance.

The victim's parents told WITN they had spoken with their daughter via telephone minutes before she was killed, encouraging her to get a bus ticket and make her way home to Ohio.

Deputies said an argument over rent money and marijuana in the house ensued, and Kandace Hernandez was shot.

The suspect's brother, Jaime Hernandez, told WITN his brother acted in self defense. Jaime Hernandez was later arrested on cocaine charges stemming from the same Wilson Avenue home.

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